Electrical-valve-controlling mechanism.



No. 775,051. PATENTED NOV. 15, 1904.

I. G. WATERMAN. ELECTRICAL VALVE CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 4, 1902. NO MODEL.

m Jam Wm UNIT D STATES Patented November 15, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRlCAL-VALVE-CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,051, dated November 15, 1904.

' Application filed Angnst l, 1902. Serial No. 118,338. (No model.)

Controlling Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains tomake and use the same.

My invention relates to electrical-valve-controlling mechanism, and is an improvementv on my copending application, filed June 24, 1902, Serial No. 113,005, renewal of which was filed November 27, 1903, as Serial No. 182,908.

The object of the present invention is the provision of an improved and novel system of electrical circuits for the switch, hot and cold water controlling magnet-valves, and float.

Another object of the present invention is to provide normally open contacts at the float which will be closed by the float on the rise of the water to the predetermined height to electromagnetically throw off the switch mechanism and close the hot and cold water valves; and another object is to manually operate the valves without utilizing the float-circuit or the electromagnet-switch throw-off mechanism.

A further object is to provide means'for electrically throwing or operating the switch in a positive manner.

The invention consists of the valve system and circuit arrangements, as set forth hereinafter, and recited in the appended claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the invention and its application diagrammatically.

I have illustrated the present invention as used in connection with a bath-tub; but it is as well adapted for use with lavatory-bowls or other receptacles to which it may be desired to control the fiow of water.

The bath-tub has the hot and cold water supply pipes 5 and 6, respectively, leading thereto, and 2 and 2 are electromagnet-valves such as set forth in my copending applications, which are normally closed, but When energized by the electrical current flowing therethrough open the valves and allow the water to flow into the bath-tub.

The switch has the electrically-connected contacts 14, to which leads the feeder-wire 28 from any suitable electrical generator 29, and the contacts 13 and 15. Contact 13 is connected to magnet-coil 2 by circuit 23, while the other terminal of magnet-coil 2 leads direct to generator 29 via circuit 30. Magnetcoil 2 has one terminal connected to contact by circuit 24, and its other terminal is connected direct to circuit 30.

There are two switch contact-levers 12 and 12, pivoted on the respective pivots 22 and having armature ends 25. The switch-lever 12 is adapted to be made to bridge the contacts 13 and 14 and switch-lever 12' is intended for bridging contacts 14 and 15. The respective switch-levers are designed to be thrown on and ofl their contacts by hand.

The numerals 18 and 18 represent two electromagnets, 18 being positioned to attract the armature end of switch-lever 12 and magnet 18 being adapted for attracting the armature end of switch-lever 12. The magnets 18 and 18' are connected in series, and one terminal, 26, leads direct to return-circuit 30, while the other terminal leads via circuit 27 to the contact-head 20 on the stem of float 11, which is in float-tank 11', connected to bath-tub 10 by pipe 19. There are two contacts 21 and 22 which contact-head 20 is designed to bridge, the contact 21 being the terminal of a circuit 31, connected to circuit 24, and contact 22 being the terminal of a circuit 32, connected to circuit 23.

There being no water normally in the bathtub the float 10 is down, and the contact-head 20 is separated from contacts 21 and 22, so that the circuits 26, 27, 31, and 32 are nor mally open. The switch contact-levers 12 and 12 are intended to be swung away from contact with the contacts 13, 14, and 15. If a supply of hot water is desired in the bathtub, lever 12 is swung into contact with the contacts 13 and 14, whereupon the current from circuit 28 will flow via contacts 13 and 14 and branch 23, to magnet-coil 2, and back to circuit 30, to generator 29, energizing magnet 2 and opening the valve controlled thereby. The water will continue to flow until the circuits are broken by throwing lever 12 to the 011' position or until water in the float-casing 11 has reached such a height that the rise of the float 11 causes contact-head 20 to bridge contacts 21 and 22, whereupon circuits 31 and 32 will be completed and the magnet-coils 18 and 18 thrown into parallel circuit with the magnet-coil 2, causing the energization of magnets 18 and 18 and the throwing to the off position of the lever 12, thereupon breaking the circuit of magnetcoil 2 and allowing its valve to close and cut off the flow of hot water through pipe 5.

If switch-lever 12 is moved into contact with contacts 14 and 15, the current will flow via 24 to coil 2, thence via 30 to generator 29, energizing coil 2 and opening the coldwater valve controlled thereby, permitting the introduction of cold water to the bathtub. On the contact of contact-head 20 with contacts 21 and 22 incident to the rise of float 11 the circuits 26, 27, 31, and 32 will be completed as before, and the magnet 18' will attract lever 12 and throw it to the off position, thus breaking the circuit of magnet 2 and allowing the valve controlled thereby to close the cold-water pipe 2 and cut off the supply of cold water to the bath-tub.

It will be understood that if both levers 12 and 12 are closed both magnets 2 and 2 will open their respective valves, and the combined hot and cold water supply will continue to flow until either or both switch-levers are opened by hand or automatically opened on the rise of the float and the completion of the circuits at contacts 20, 21, and 22.

I am aware that changes could be resorted to in carrying out the present invention, and 1 therefore lay claim to all modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with an electrical supply-circuit, and a switch and electrically-operated valve embraced therein, of a second circuit connected in shunt to the aforesaid electrically-operated valve, a normally open circuit-closer for the said shunt-circuit, and an electromagnet included in the said shunt-circuit and adapted for opening the switch afore' said on closing of the normally open circuitcloser.

2. The combination with the mains of an electrical supply-circuit, of branch circuits connected in parallel across the mains of said supply circuit, electrically operated valves in the respective branch circuits aforesaid, switch mechanism controlling the currentsupply through the branch circuits aforesaid,

. a circuit arranged in shunt to the electricallyoperated valves aforesaid, a normally open circuit-closer for said shunt-circuit, and electromagnetic means included in said shuntcircuit adapted for opening the switch mechanism on closing of the normally open circuit closer.

3. The combination with the mains of an electrical supply-circuit, of independent electromagnets connected in parallel across the mains of said supply-circuit, a receptacle, pipes leading thereto, normally closed valves in said pipes which are opened by the respective electromagnets aforesaid, switch mechanism controlling the current-supply through said electromagnets, a circuit arranged in shunt to the electrically-operated valves aforesaid and normally open,electromagnetic mechanism in said shunt-circuit and adapted for opening the switch mechanism on closing of said shunt-circuit, and a float adapted to rise and fall according to the level of the water in the receptacle and which closes the shunt-circuit when the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined height.

1. The combination with the mains of an electrical supply circuit, of branch circuits connected in parallel across the mains of said supply circuit, electrically operated valves included in said branch circuits, switch mechanism controlling the current-supply through the branch circuits aforesaid, other branch circuits leading from the circuits of the electrically-operated valves and having normally open terminals, another branch circuit having one terminal open and the other terminal connected to the circuits of the valves, means for closing the normally open terminals aforesaid, and electrically-operated means included. in the branch circuit last named and adapted for opening the switch mechanism.

5. The combination with an electrical supply-circuit, of a switch controlling said circuit, an electromagneticallyoperated valve in said supply-circuit and controlled by said switch, a receptacle whose fluid-supply is controlled by the electromagnetically-operated valve,electromagnetically-operated means for operating the switch, a normally open shuntcircuit including the electromagnetic switchoperating means, and means operated when the fluid in the receptacle reaches a predetermined position adapted to close the shuntcircuit and thereby cause energization of the electromagnetic switch-operating means and the operation of the switch.

6. The combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the supply of fluid to the receptacle, a switch controlling the supply of current to the electrically-operated valve, an electrically-operated device adapted to coact with the switch to operate the same, normally open contacts preventing energization of the electrical switch-operating device, and means operated by the fluid when at a predetermined position in the receptacle adapted to cause the closing of the normally open contacts and consequent energization of the electrical switchoperating device and operation of the supplyvalve aforesaid.

7. The combination with a fluid-receptacle, of electrically-operated valves independently controlling the supply of diflerent fluids to the receptacle, independent switches controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically-operated valves, an electrically-operated device for throwing the switches, and means for energizing said electrically-operated device when the fluid in the receptacle is at a predetermined position.

8. The combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the supply of fluid to the receptacle, a switch controlling the supply of current to the electrically-operated valve, an electromagnet for positively and directly throwing the switch to the off position, and means for energizing said electrically operated device when the fluid in the receptacle is at a predetermined position.

9. The combination with a fluid-receptacle, of an electrically-operated valve controlling the supply of fluid to the receptacle, aswitch controlling the supply of current to the electrically-operated valve, an electrically-operated device for positively and directlythrowing the switch, and means for energizing said electrically-operated device when the fluid in the receptacle is at a predetermined position.

10. The combination with a fluid-receptacle, of electrically-operated valves independently controllingthe supply of different fluids to the receptacle, switch mechanism controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically operated valves, electrically operated means for positively and directly throwing the switch mechanism, and means for energizing said electrically operated switch throwing means when the fluid in the receptacle is at a predetermined position.

11. The combination with an electricallyoperated valve, of aswitch controlling the supply of current to the electrically-operated valve, and an electrically-operated device for positively and directly throwing the switch.

12. The combination with an electricallyoperated valve, of a hand -operated switch adapted for manipulation at will controlling the supply of current to the electrically-operated valve, and an electrically-operated device for positively and directly throwing the switch.

13. The combination with electrically-operated valves independently controlling the supply of different fluids, of independent switches controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically-operated valves, and electrically-operated mechanism for throwing the switches.

14. The combination with electrically-operated valves independently controlling the supply of difierent fluids, of independent handoperated switches adapted for independent manipulation at will and controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically-operated valves, and an electrically-operated device for throwing the switches.

15. The combination with electrically-operated valves independently controlling the supply of different fluids, of independent switches controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically-operated valves, and independent electrically-operated mechanisms for throwing the respective switches.

16. The combination with electrically-operated valves independently controlling the supply of different fluids, of independent handoperated switches adapted for independent hand manipulation at will and controlling the supply of current to the respective electrically-operated valves, and independent electrically-operated mechanisms for independently throwing the switches.

In testimony whereof l aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC Gr. WVATERMAN. 

